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Carter cites reasons for lifting transgender ban in military

The Defense Department recently overturned the ban on transgender personnel in the U.S. armed forces after a study commissioned by Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

“As a result of the
yearlong study, I’m announcing today that we are ending the ban on transgender
Americans in the United States military,” Carter said. “Effective immediately,
transgender Americans may serve openly, and they can no longer be discharged or
otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender.”

Carter said his policy reversal was for three reasons: the force of the future, or the need to
have access to all potential and qualified recruits; the existing force, or the impacts on current service members not serving as openly transgender; and
on matters of principle, or the normalization of transgender service in
private and public sectors.

"We in the
Defense Department and the military need to avail ourselves of all talent
possible…to remain what we are now – the finest fighting force the world has
ever known,” Carter said. “Our mission is to defend this country, and we don’t
want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualifications to serve preventing us
from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who can
best accomplish the mission.”

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